Lady Mustangs rally past Pisgah for win

"It's tough to play a non-conference match at this point in the season, and Pisgah has a strong team, especially defensively," Coach Cindi Simmons said. "We hung in there and were real smart with our play at the net."

The Lady Mustangs (11-5) tied game one 6-6 on three points by Katie Loughlin and Brittany Hilton's kill. They drew even again at 9-9 as Christy Pruett served three points, including an ace, and Elizabeth Trine had a kill. SM was never able to take the lead as the Sugar Bears held on for the narrow win.

Game two saw the Lady Mustangs go on top 6-3 after three points from Ryan Cook and kills by Loughlin and Pruett. The margin was 10-4 after four points by Pruett. Pisgah twice closed within a point as SM had trouble evening the match before finally scoring on the fifth game point, an ace by Amber Stephens.

Loughlin's three points, including an ace, put the Lady Mustangs in front 4-2 in the third game. Pruett's four points, including an ace, and Hilton's kill made it 9-5. Pisgah battled back for a 10-10 tie before Loughlin gave her team a 13-10 edge on three points, including an ace, and Trine's kill. The Sugar Bears responded with five straight points to take the game.

SM never trailed in game four and led 9-2 following four points, including an ace, by Stephens and consecutive kills by Pruett. Stephens served the last five points with Carly Harshman recording a kill.

Cook's three points, including an ace, and Pruett's kill gave the Lady Mustangs the lead for good at 5-3 in game five. The Sugar Bears never mounted a challenge, and Pruett served the final five points with Loughlin contributing three kills.

Loughlin finished with 11 kills while Pruett and Cook both had 10. Harshman and Stephens contributed 19 and 17 assists, respectively.

Pruett was tops in service points with 18 and served 96.3 percent. Stephens and Loughlin followed with 14 points each. Harshman didn't miss in 21 serves, and Cook was perfect in 17. Stasha Nicholson got both of her serves in. Loughlin served 92.3 percent. Team serving was 92.8 percent.

The Lady Mustang JVs are 5-11 after a 15-12, 16-14 victory. Bonnie Claxton served six points in the first game. Katie Crisp served eight, including seven in a row, in game two.

"We changed the lineup around a little bit and played better as a team," Coach Nikki Young said. "We're still making too many unforced errors."

Back to Sports: 10/04/01.